Thank you all (incl. Roger) for your advice.
I do realize that the ideal board that can meet every single demand of every member of a family does not exist. However I am not a difficult/negative person and I do believe there must be a board on which we all can have a lot of fun and progress in our windsurfing skills.
My most important concern is to get/keep my girlfriend hooked on windsurfing and thus make it a family sport.
My second concern is that I would like a board (and rigs) on which I can progress to surfing without the daggerboard, in to the straps and harness,… (I really master the basics, also in wind conditions of above 3-4 BFT)
Roger, you have reassured me that the board is suitable form my girlfriend (56 kg), as did the first replier who referred to James Douglas’ calculator. Thanks for that.
About myself (72 kg), I think I first have to try to master the advanced techniques before going to a higher level board, rather than the other way round. So after talking to my surf instructor again we have opted for the Rio S.
What the rigs are concerned, we have ordered the Severne Synergy sail pack 6,7 m2 and an extra 4,8 m2 synergy sail. The Severne website and catalogue does not specify weights or carbon % of the masts for the Synergy line. These rigs are advertised as entry level, so I suppose, they’re not too heavy?!
Of course for my kids (now only 4 and 6 of age) we will have to buy special kids rigs later on.
We will mostly surf on smaller lakes from autumn to fall. So the wind will mostly be 2-4 BFT with, now and then, a day of 5 or 6 BFT.
Comments are still welcome. After we have tested the board and rigs, I will post our experience.
By the way I still do not understand why manufacturers do not specify a ‘recommended weight chart’ for their entry level boards.
Thanks.

17th September 2012 12:31 PM

Roger

Unreg,
Lots of differing opinions here.
If the Rio you used at the school is one of the older Start/later Go based models and not one of the
newer narrower/longer Rios that have much better glide in light winds then perhaps it would be good for you to go and take a few more lessons to try out some different boards.
Getting an older Go board (without a center board or center fin) presents problems (not insurmountable) with staying upwind and many of the basic transition moves as it does not "steer" in the same way as the Rio with a centerboard.
Something to consider when learning or teaching beginners.
The volume (float) of the Rio S suits your girlfriend's weight more than it suits your weight.
Have you actually sailed one with a small ~5.2 m2 rig in < 3 BFT of wind?
At your 72 Kg. weight, you could easily sail the Rio S with a 7.0-7.5 m2 rig and begin to get some
performance with the centerboard retracted.
With a ~ 5.0 rig in < 3 BFT......not so fun for a sailor of your weight.
For your girl friend and your kids (how old are they and how long until the will want to try windsurfing?)
a smaller lighter rig is going to be the key to their success.
Put them on a <60% carbon mast on a wave or freeride 5.0 m2 sail designed and built for higher winds, and they will probably give up on windsurfing because the rig is so heavy.
If you have more wind where you plan to sail, then the 5.0 might work for you, but would be totally too big for the GF and kids.
As suggested, you will most likely need/want another board for your skill level, so the Rio S makes the most sense for the girl friend and kids.
You, on the other hand would do alot better on the Rio M with your current skill set, but will soon want a shortboard and larger sails.
A tough choice indeed!
Roger

17th September 2012 08:09 AM

tonymatta

The reason most of us end up with multiple boards is because none of them are good for everything.
You will have plenty of fun with either the small or medium Rio. They are the best suited for learning and progressing for your partner and children. As you get more confident, invest in bigger sails and when you are ready then look at an extra board like the Go or other more fancy models. You can then be sailing fast while the others are using the Rio instead of sitting on the beach. I know everyone has budget constraints and has to make choices. If you are more concerned with the whole family fun then the larger Rio is your best bet.

16th September 2012 12:06 PM

crell

Hi, I'm in a similar position to yourself. I started windsurfing in August and am currently using a hired Rio S. I'm 83 kg and its easily buoyant. The M is a lot more stable when turning, particularlt in the chop on more windy days, but the S is my preference.

To give you something else to consider, early on I used a go 170 which I found better in every way, and much more fun. it was an older one with no daggerboard but if it were my money id bypass the rio and buy a go. Recent models do have a daggerboard if thats important.

9th September 2012 10:34 PM

Unregistered

Thank you, jw, for your usefull information. I have downloaded the Jim Douglas calculator. I also sended the info to my instructor, but unless he or Starboard themselves convince me otherwise, I think I will prefer the Rio S.
I find it somewhat surprising actually that board manufacturers do not specify weight categories for beginner boards. Maybe some sort of size chart for beginners by Starboard would help them buy the right stuff.
Of course one can test boards by taking lessons for example, like we did. However in most surf schools they do not use the very latest boards (would be to expensive, I suppose). In the case of the Rio, its shape and sizes have changed substantially these last few years, so the board I surfed on, does not help me make my choice.

Thanks a lot!

8th September 2012 09:15 PM

Unregistered

will NOT argue with the sail suggestions = good range and starting point
if you look up james douglass sail calculator you will find 145 liters as a good starting point
at 100 kilos/220 pounds my first shortboard was 160 liters and 80 cm wide {still use it}
for your wife 145 liters and 70+ cm width should be ample
discuss with your instructor
he knows you and your skills, area better than i :-)

good luck
jw

8th September 2012 07:04 AM

Unregistered

Rio S or M ? part II

This is not a reply, but an addition to my first post:
I forgot to add that I would really like to put some time and effort into windsurfing again and thus progress. I'm starting to use a harness, but would like to learn to use the footstraps, to power (and, in time, carve) jibe and to plane.
In that respect, it is not quit clear to me either in what way the GO Windsurfer ( more or less the same volume, a bit wider, but with a narrower tail ) and the Rio S act differently on the water. According to the Starboard specifications the Rio goes with a wider sail range (2-9) compared to the Windsurfer (7-10)
My instructor recommended the Severne Synergy sail pack with a 6.7 and a 4.8 sail to give me and my girlfriend the most opportunities to surf on both light wind and stonger wind days.

Thanks in advance

8th September 2012 02:01 AM

Unregistered

Rio S or M ? Some advice, please.

I would like to buy a Rio for myself and my family. My question is : should I buy a M or an S?
I surfed quit a bit some 20 years ago (Tiga Fun Cup 360, only with daggerboard and old type sails), but my girlfriend is just starting. Our kids are to young now, but I would like to teach them in a few years too.
We took private lessons today on a Rio M (259x90 ; 2007?) with a 5m2 sail at 3Bft and it went really well for both of us. I think my girlfriend is not untalented since she managed to surf, tack, jibe and go upwind in 2 hours time and fell off only 3 times. She really had fun and wanted to go faster already.
I weigh 72 kg (158 lbs) and she 57 kg (125 lbs). Our weight has been stable for the last 20 years.
After my search on internet, I was tended to take the S. However, I asked my surf instructor and he said to take the M, since the S would be more for kids (?).
The shape and size of the Rio has changed since 2007. Can you give me some advice ? I would like to go as small as possible, but I don't want my girlfriend to be unstable on the board.